Fake emails or websites — known as phishing — are nothing new online. But they’ve now migrated to social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, where phony, look-alike accounts pose as legitimate companies, like Southwest Airlines or Best Buy. They post accounts promising free flights or other giveaways, if you’ll “like,” “follow” or “comment on” their site. It’s actually a ruse to get you to divulge sensitive personal information.

“Pretty much any trusted name has had their name hijacked,” says Peterson. “It’s basic identity theft.”

The phony accounts ask you to click on a link that contains malicious software or direct you to sites that try to steal your credit card data, Social Security number or other personal information.

“If you see an offer that sounds amazing, don’t click on links or download attachments,” said Peterson. Instead, go to the company’s website yourself – Southwest.com, for instance – to see if it’s offering any such deals.

FAKE WI-FI HOT SPOTS

You’re in the airport or at your hotel on a business trip or vacation. What’s the first thing you do? Check for a Wi-Fi hot spot for your smartphone, tablet or laptop.

But you could unwittingly be falling victim to an identity thief, sitting nearby and armed with a USB-based antenna to lure you in. It could be a network that sounds like your hotel — “Hotel Wi-Fi,” instead of “Holiday Inn Wi-Fi,” for instance.

Identity thieves use hardware and software that make their Wi-Fi hot spot the strongest available signal, which means your devices may automatically link to it. Once you’re connected, it might ask for a credit card or your name and room number. They could be inserting malware or trying to steal your financial information.

“It’s a real revenue generator for criminals. And over the past couple years, it’s gotten worse with the explosion of Wi-Fi,” said Levin.

To avoid it: If you’re in a hotel, coffee shop, airport or office lobby, ask for the building’s official, specific Wi-Fi system. It may be worth paying a daily fee for the hotel’s enhanced Wi-Fi system. Ask your provider, like AT&T, for a virtual private network (VPN), which is more secure. And never open personal email or access your financial accounts in a public place.

STRANDED TRAVELER

Also known as the “grandparent scam,” this can be particularly effective during summer, when we expect our friends and family to be traveling.

Scammers call or email with urgent messages that someone you know has been hit with a medical or financial emergency that requires wiring funds immediately. The caller frequently begs you to “not tell anyone,” ostensibly out of embarrassment.

If you get such a call, take a breath. Call the person allegedly needing help to confirm he or she is really stranded. Never wire money to a stranger.

Just last month, Peterson said, her own grandmother in Illinois was targeted by a scammer, claiming a vacationing granddaughter was in a car accident and desperately needed $2,500 wired to cover surgery. Alarmed, Peterson’s grandmother immediately drove to a Walmart store to wire the money, but became suspicious about the caller’s insistence on secrecy. Ultimately, she called her granddaughter to check, then the police to report the fraud.

TIME-SHARE OFFERS

Preying on time-share owners eager to sell their unwanted vacation condos, scammers will offer to purchase the time share, often at inflated prices. As part of the offer, they require the consumer to deposit money in a supposed escrow account to cover fees. No surprise: The escrow company isn’t real and you’re out the deposit.

FAKE VACATION HOMES

Similar to home or apartment rental scams on Craigslist, consumers view ads for a vacation home or resort rental and, based on the enticing description or photos, wire a deposit or put money onto a prepaid card, such as Green Dot. If it’s a scam, when they arrive at their destination, they discover the address isn’t real, the property isn’t owned by the person who took the deposit or the “gorgeous” resort turns out to be rundown or even closed.

To avoid those unpleasant scenarios, the BBB advises Googling the address to confirm the property exists and isn’t out of business. If it’s a third-party travel site, call the hotel or resort’s 800 number to verify your reservation.

Wiring a deposit is always a red flag. “We don’t recommend that people wire money or put money on a reloadable card,” said Peterson. “Once you do, you generally have no way of getting it back.”

WORD TO THE WISE

Traveling is always an adventure. And with a few safeguards, you can enjoy it worry-free.